April 16, 2026
Statistics Canada announced that total manufacturing sales rose 3.6% in February
Statistics Canada announced that total manufacturing sales rose 3.6% to $71.2 billion in February, following a 3.1% decline in January.
Sales rose in 12 of the 21 subsectors, led by the transportation equipment (+18.8%), machinery (+7.7%) and primary metal (+4.9%) subsectors. Those increases were partially offset by a 3.2% decline in sales of chemical products. On a year-over year basis, total manufacturing sales were down 1.7% in February.
Sales rose in six provinces in February, led by Ontario and Quebec, while Alberta posted the largest decline.
Sales in Ontario rose 7.5% to $30.5 billion in February, following a 7.4% decline in January. Sales increased in 14 of the 21 subsectors, led by transportation equipment and machinery. Transportation equipment sales rose 24.7% to $6.9 billion in February, reflecting higher sales of motor vehicles (+43.7%) and motor vehicle parts (+10.5%). In the machinery subsector, sales increased 21.7% to $2.2 billion, mainly on higher sales of other general-purpose machinery. On a year-over-year basis, total sales in Ontario were down 4.6% in February.
In Quebec, sales rose 2.4% to $19.0 billion in February, driven by increased sales of primary metals (+3.2%) and higher production of aerospace products and parts (+5.5%). Sales of primary metals in Quebec reached a record high, rising 3.2% to $3.3 billion in February due to higher sales in the non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing industry group.
Alberta recorded the largest decrease, with sales declining 2.5% to $8.5 billion in February. Sales fell in 11 of the 21 subsectors, led by the petroleum and coal product (-5.1%) and chemical (-9.5%) subsectors. Decreased sales of basic chemicals accounted for most of the decline in the chemical subsector during the month. On a year-over-year basis, total sales in Alberta were down 1.5% in February.